Set up Geckoboard on a Raspberry Pi

This article guides you through using our Send to TV feature to display a Geckoboard dashboard on a Raspberry Pi.

What you'll need

Before you begin setting up Geckoboard on a Raspberry Pi, you'll need the following hardware and software:

Hardware

Raspberry Pi

If you don't already own one, we recommend the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+. You may also want to consider buying a case to protect the board.

Power supply

The Raspberry Pi has a micro USB port, like that of many mobile phones. You'll need a power supply which provides at least 2.5 amps. You can't go wrong using the official Raspberry Pi power supply

Micro SD card

The Raspberry Pi needs a micro SD card (freshly formatted is best) with a capacity of at least 8 GB to store all its files and the Raspbian operating system. Depending on your setup, you might also need a Micro SD Adapter (this looks like a regular-sized SD card with a slot in it for the micro SD card) and a USB powered SD card reader.

The Raspberry Pi has a HDMI output port that is compatible with most modern TVs and monitors. If you don't have a spare HDMI cable you can always bundle one with your Raspberry Pi. Also, if your display doesn't have an HDMI port, you can get HDMI-to-DVI and HDMI-to-VGA adapters.

Step 1: Set up your Micro SD card

Note

Depending on your setup, you might need a Micro SD Adapter (this looks like a regular-sized SD card with a slot in it for the micro SD card) and a USB powered SD card reader.

Unzip the Raspbian.zip file. This may take a few moments.

Load balenaEtcher. Click Select image and locate the unzipped Raspbian .img file. Then click Select drive and locate the Micro SD card. Click Flash. (You may need to type in your computer’s password). This process may take a few minutes.

That’s it! You’re all set to connect your Raspberry Pi.

Step 2: Connect your Raspberry Pi

To connect your Raspberry Pi to your display, follow these steps:

Insert the micro SD card you’ve set up with Raspbian into the micro SD card slot at the underside of your Pi.

Note

If you've been using an SD card adapter, remove the micro SD card first.